Blank-holding means



' 1,625,991 R. w. GLAsNl-:R ET mT BLANK HOLDING MEANS April 26 1h47.

Filed Oct. 21. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l @A @l 1 e1 l 10 1,625,991 April 26"1927 R. w. GLAsNl-:R ET AL BLANK HOLDING MEANS Filed O'ct. 2l. 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 2 April 26, 1927.

R. w. GLAS-NER ET Al.

BLANK HOLDING MEANS Filed 051-. 21, 1922 Patented Apr. 26, 1927. y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH W. GLA'SNER AND OLOI` G. NILSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORSTO MARQUETTE TOOL 8c MANUFACTURING COMPANYfOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR-PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BLANK-HOLDIN G MEANS.

Application filed October 21, 1922Av Serial No. 595,985.

This invention relates to improvements in.

form the same, but also must work in op-1 position to the pressure ofthe blank lholding means, with the result that among other things morepower is required to'operate the press.

In order to overcomethese objections and to increase the capacity of thepress without increasing; its size or power necessary for its operation,and to provide `improved means whereby the blank holding means and theram or movable member of the press may operate independently of eachother so that it is not necessary for the ram or movable member ltooperate in opposition to the 'stress of the blank holding means, is oneof the objects of the present invention.

A further object is to provide an improved blank holding means embodying,pressure creatingA means for actuating the blank holder and meanswhereby the said pressure will at a predetermined point in the operationof the machine also operate upon the movable` part of the'press forassisting the said movable part 1n its operan A further Objectis toprovide an improved device of this character which will besimple,durable, cheap and compact in construction, and effective andeicient in operation, and which'may beI readily applied to sheet metalpresses and which may as readily ybe detached therefrom Without alteringthe construction or interfering with the original purpose for 'which,the machine ywas designed.

rangement of the several parts'hereinafter moe fully described. andClaimed and. shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating thisinvention and in which` Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation andpartly in section of a portion of a sheet metal press, having a blankholding means applied there-to and constructed in ac'- cordance with theprinciples of this invention. '1

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showmg .the method of applying aplurality of cu'hions to a press;

a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the-drawing the numeral 10 designates a`stationary portion of a mechanically operated sheet metal press, 11 isthe lower blank holder, and l2 a movable .part or the ram of the presscarrying the die punch ,13, all of the ordinary and well knownconstruction.

The ram 12 is adapted for a reciprocating movement toward and awayfromthe die member 11. p

The numeral 14 designates a blank holder` ring and 15 a'blank holderwhich 3o-operateA inder 17, telescopingfwith a 'cylinder 18 1s theoperationA of the*v 'Provided for controlling blank'holder 15, 1.

Any number of these fluid pressure vcush ionsvmay be employedI and asthe construction and operationoffeach cushion fis the] same, thedescription [of one will'apply,

equally as well to them all.

The cushion is supported in any desiredf or suitable Vmannerfroma1s`t'aticnary`por-- tion lof the press 'anda simple and etiicientmeans and as shown' -`1n`tl1e present invention, embodiesa rod orprojection 1'9 which," l

is connected with the' cylinder=18to project?" therebeyond and this rodis'anchored "orf se# cured to the fixed member `10 of the press kin anysuitable manner preferably by insert-"jA ing one end'20 of the rodinto-the *member 10 and. securing ythe aame'by'meansofja'suite'` ablefastening screw or bolt 21.

Carried by the 'rod 19 isa piston 22 which-v operates in the cylinder 17and there is pro- 18is a piston member 24 which is preferably connectedand forms the end of the cylinder 17, and through which piston 24 thepiston rod 25 is adapted to slide, there being provided a suitablestuffing boX 26, to form a fluid tight joint between the two.

If desired, there may be provided an outlet passage 27 leading from theinside of the cylinder 17 between the pistons 22 and 24 and whichpassage 27 discharges to the atmosphere.

Connected with the cylinder 17, preferably to the end 28 thereo is adepending rod 29, which passes loose y through a portion of the ram 12.This rod 29 may be of any desired length and is connected in any desiredor suitable manner with the draw ring 14, such as by means of a fasteninscrew or bolt 30, so that when the cylin er 17 moves with relation tothe cylinder 18, the draw ring 14 and the blank holder 15 will moveindependently with respect to the movement of the ram 12.

Fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 17 from any suitable sourceand in any suitable manner preferably by means of an inlet pipe 31,which discharges into the cylinder 17 and receives its supply through apipe or connection 32, which latter in turn leads from the source of suly.

A suitable valve 33 1s provided for controlling communication betweenthe pipes 32 and'31 and-this valve is preferably arranged within acasing 34, having a discharge outlet 35, leading to the atmosphere.

The valve 33 is provided with a passage- Way l36, so arranged that whenthe valve is in the position shown in Figure 1, communication will beestablished between the pipe 32 and the pipe 31 for the purpose ofdelivering Huid pressure into the cylinder 17. The valve 33,however,'"may be adjusted so as to close communication between the pipe32 and establish communication between the pipe 31 and lthe pipe 35, sothat the fluid from the cylinder 17I may be discharged through the pipe35 andled to any suitable point. 1

'With this construction it will be manifest that when fluid pressure isadmitted into the cylinder 17, the fluid will also flow through theopening 23 and into the cylinder 18 to establish the same relativepressure l in the two cylinders.

In order to release or relieve the pressure or stress of the draw ring14 and blank holder 15 upon the work or blank 16, itis .only .necessaryto relieve the pressure in the vcylinders 17-18. which may beaccomplished in any suitable manner and in the present invention a.simple and eiiicient means for accomplishing this result is shown asembodying the valve 33, which may be adjusted so as to establishcommunication between the pipes 31 and 35.

The valve 33 may be operated in any desire-d or suitable manner such asb means of a handle 36, with which is connected a suitable operating rod37, adapted to be actuated in any desired manner.

AIf desired, a suitable regulating valve indicated diagrammatically at38, may be provided in the pipe line 32, and which pipe line leads fromany suitable source of pressure supply to the cylinders 17 and 18.

It is thought that the operation of vthis invention will beclearlyunderstood from the foregoing, but briey stated it is as follows.When the press is not operating the ram 12 will be elevated and thecylinder 17 will be telescoped within the cylinder 18.

Assuming that fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinders 17--18 and theram starts to descend, the fluid pressure in the cylinders 17 and 18together with the weight of the draw ring-14 and blank holder 15 willcause the latter to descend with the ram, the rods 29 being of such alength that the draw ring 14 and blank holder 15 will be in a positionthat the blank holder 15 will engage the work 16 ahead of the punch 13so that the fluid pressure in the cushions will operate upon the ram 12to assist in lowering the ram, and at the same time the fluid pressurein the cylinders will operate upon the blank holder 15 to cause thelatter to grip the work 16.

I'nasmuch as the blank holder 15 engages the work before the punch 13engages the work it will be manifest that the stress of the cushionoperates directly upon the blank holder 15 so that from the time thatthe blank holder 15 engages the work the pressure of the cushion will bedirectly upon the blank holder and the ram will be relieved of suchpressure. In other words as soon as the blank holder 15 enga es the workthe movement of theblank ho der will be arrested but the ram willcontinue to move independently of Athe blank holder `and no power isnecessary from the ram to hold the work, the work being held entirely bythe pressure exerted upon the blank holder by the stress of the blankholding means.

After the forming operation, the ram first starts to ascend for apredetermined portion of its travel and at a further predetermined llUpoint in the operation of themachine the pressure within the cylinders17 and 18 is re lieved and the blank holder will ascend with the ram. i

Obviously the pressure inthe cylinders 17-18 may be regulated bythepressure regsible to control the pressure or stress lof the blankholdingmeans at any point in the operation ofthe machine.

vIt will be manifest that any vnumber of these pressure creating meansmay be provided for operating upon the blank holder according to thework to be performed and in the diagrammatic illustration Shown'inFigure 2, means are provided for employing four sets of cylinders, butit is obvious, as before .stated` any number of cylinders may beemployed.

ln the diagrammatic illustration shown in Figure 2, one of the valves 33is provided for each cushion element and these valves are adapted to beindependently operated so as to control the pressure in each elementindependently of the other and if desired, regulating valves 38 may alsobe provided in the pipe line connections and which regulating valves areindividual to the cushion elements so that a di'erent degree of -fluidpressure may, if desired, be exerted in the individual cushionyelements.-

lf the fluid pressure blank holding means embodies only .one cushionelement or if it is desired to simu`ltaneously control a plurality ofthese -cushion elements a single controlling valve 39 may be provided inthe pipe line connection, and which valve 39 may be of a similarconstruction to the valve 33, one portion of the valve controlling thefluid inlet pipe 40, leading to the cushion elements and correspondingwith the pipe connection 32, and the said valve is also provided withfadischarge outlet 41, corresponding with the outlet 35 and communicatingwith the atmosphere. Y

Thus it will be seen that by setting the valve 39 so as to establishcommunication between the source of fluid supply andthe pipe lines 42,which correspond with the pipe line 32,the fluid pressure in all of thecushions may be simultaneously controlled, provided, however, that thevalves 33 are first opened for a simultaneous control.

When it is desired for an individual control then the valves 33 of therespective cushion elements are operated as desired.

A regulating valve 43 may also be provided in the pipe connection 40 andcorresponds with the regulating valve 38, shown in Figure 1.

ln Figure 3 of the drawings, there 'is shown another adaptation of theblank holding means and in this form of the invention the cylinder 44 isanchored to the ram or movableX part 12 of the press and leading`through Athe bottom of the cylinder is an outlet 45, which communicateswith the atmosphere. A

The cylinder 46 which telescopes with the -cylinder 44 is supported inany' suitable manner from a stationary part of the ma.-

chine such as the partlO by means of a depending rod 47, which -passesthrough the' head 48 of the cylinder' 46, and also. passes through asuitable opening in the head 49 of the cylinder 44, and which latterhead forms a piston. Suitable packing 5() is arrange-d within theopening in the head 49 through which the portion 51 of the rod 47reciprocates.

n opening 52 is provided throughthe portion 51 of the rod 47, which hascormnnnication as at 53 with the cylinder' 44 and also has.communication as at 54 with the pipe connection 55. The passage 52communicates with the cylinder 46 by means of a suitable opening 56 anda suitable controlling vvalve 57 has connection with the pipe 55 Thevalve 57 may be operated in any suitable manner such as by means of ahandle 58 to which handle may be connected an operating rod 59, andwhich rod may beconnected, if desired, with any movable part of themachine.

Leading from the valve 57 is a pipe connection 60, which connects withany suitable source of pressure supply and if desired there may bearranged in the pipe connection a suitable regulating valve 61. 'Withthis form of the invention the operation briefly stated is as follows.Assuming the ram 12 to be elevated the blank holder :i

the ram to assist in its descending opera- 1 tion.

As soon as the blank holder 15 engages the work 16, the movement of theblank holder will be arrested and the blank holder will be held in agripping position upon the work 16 by means of the fluid pressureexerted in the cylinder 44. The blank holder engages the work in advanceof the die `punch 13, and the pressure Will be even in the cylinders 44and 46. When the'blank holder is arrested the ram 12 continues in itsvdownward movement b press operating means and just at the time that theblank holder is arrested the pressure in the cylinders 44 and 46 willcontinue to operate upon the ram 12 to assist in forcing the ramdownwardly.

' When the blank holder 15 is in engagement with the work' 16 and isarrested 1n its downwardmovement, .the piston 62 in the cylinder 44, andwhich piston is connected with the rod 19, will be arrested in itsmovement and the bottom of the cylinder 44 will move away from thepiston.A Inasmuch as lun lJU

the portion 51 of the rod 47 is stationary and projects into thecylinder 46 and also into the cylinder 44, the end of the portion 51will telescope into'the opening 63 in the rod 19.

It will therefore be manifest with this improved invention the fluidpressure is first exerted upon the blank holdingl means and when theblank holding means has been arrested in its movement and is grippingthe work, the ram still operating under the influence of the pressure inthe cushioning'device will also descend and be arrested in its.operation of forming the material.

During the relative movement of thepiston 62 and cylinder 44, it will bemanifest that atmospheric air will be iirst drawn into the cylinder 44beneath the piston 62, and then discharged therefrom through the opening45.

NIt will be manifest from the foregoing that by reason of powerbeingadded to the ram during its downward movement, when the work is tobe performed, by the stress of the blank holding means upon the machine,the capacity of the press will be greatlyincreased without making itnecessary to increase the power for the operation of the press.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed it is to be understood that various changes may be made in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts, within the scope of the claims,

without departing from the spirit of this invention. 1

By the term mechanically operated as used in the claims it is to beunderstood to mean a press which is operated in the ordinary and wellknown manner by means of the usual rotary crank. I

While there has been shown and described a simple and efficient meansfor accomplishing the results desired it is to be understood that thedrawings herewith submitted4 are only illustrative of the principle' andtherefore, it is desired that the drawings herewith submitted shall .beconsidered as being merely diagrammatic.

What is claimed as new is:

vl. A mechanically operated draw press embodying aforming block, amovable element co-operatin'g with the forming block, and yielding blankholding means movable with and with respect to the said element, wherebysaid movable element will be operable upon the work and will .berelieved of the stress of the said blank holding means, the said blankholding means embodying a plurality of yieldable cushion elements, the

said cushion elements being disposed above, the work. v -v 2. Amechanically operated draw press embodying a forming block, a movableelement co-operating with the forming block, and yielding blank holdingmeans movable with and with respect to said element, whereby saidmovable element will be' operable upon the Work and will be relieved ofthe stress of the said blank holding means. the said blank holding meansembodying a plurality of fluid pressure cushion elements, the said fluidpressure cushion being dis# posed above the work.

A draw press embodying a forming block, a movable element co-operatingwith the .forming block, yielding blank holding means, said movableelement being operable upon the work in such a manner that it will berelieved of the stress of the said blank holding means, the said blankholding means embodying a plurality of fluid pressure cushion elements,and means for controlling the said fluid pressure.

4. A draw press embodying a forming block, a movable elementco-operating with the forming block, yielding blank holding means, saidmovable element being operable upon the work in such a manner that itwill be relieved of the stress of the said blank holding means, the saidblank holding means embodying a plurality of fluid pressure cushionelements, land means individual to the said lements for independentlycontrolling the said pressure.k l

5.' A draw press embodying a forming block, a movable elementco-operating with i the forming block, yielding blank holding means,said movable element being operable upon the Work in such a manner thatit will be relieved of the stress of the said blank holding means, thesaid blank holding means embodying a plurality of fluid pressure cushionelements, and means common to the said elements for simultaneouslycontrolling the said pressure.

6. A draw press including a forming block,'a movable elementco-operating withthe`forming block, yielding blank holding means, saidmovable element being operable upon the work in such a manner that itwill be relieved of the stress of the said blank holding means, the saidblank holding means embodying a uid pressure element, and means forcontrolling the said fluid pressure.

7. A draw press including a formin block, a movable element(zo-'operating witii the forming block, yielding blank holding means,said movable element being operable upon the Work in such a manner thatit will be relieved of the stress of the said blank holdin means, thesaid blank' holding means em dying a fluid pressure cushion element,`and means for controlling the said4 fluid rassure, the said Huidpressure cushion being disposed above the work.

Y 8. In combination. a sheet metal forming die, said die including malekand female `N0 forming members and blank `holdingmembers, one of themembers of the die being actuated by a mechanical power means, and ailuid pressure cushion actuating the other member of the die.

l9. In combination, a sheet metal formimg die, said die including maleand female' forming membersand blank holding 'members, one of themembers of the die being actuated by a mechanical power means, and afluid pressure cushion actuating the other member of the die, the saidcushion being mounted above the work.

l0. In combination, a sheet metal forming die, said die including maleand female forming' members and blank holding members, one of themembers of the die being actuated by a mechanical power means, and afluid pressure cushion actuating the other member of the die, the saidcushion operbeing actuated by a mechanical power means, and a fluidpressure cushion actuatin the. other member .of the dle, the said saiddie including a male and fe-f 25 cu hion being mounted above the workand Y operating to relieve the power driven memf to thebers of the dieof stress in addition driving stress thereof.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, onthis 19th vday of October, A. D. 1922.

RUDOLPHy W. GLASNER. OLOF G. NILSON.

